Pick



M. BRANI-IAM 2,318,193

PICK

Filed OC'C- 3. 1941 FE- C? v l l T; E

2/ il!! l l l', *51

-I BY` `4 Patented May 4, 1943 sare T FFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to digging implements and moreparticularly to an improved pick.

One object of the invention is to provide a pick wherein means is.employed for eiectively retaining the handle in hrm engagement with thehead so that danger of slipping of the head from the handle will beprevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pick, the constructionof which, in all of its embodiments thereof, is characterized by extremesimplicity and utility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pick wherein, incertain embodiments, barbs or prongs are employed for engaging the endof the handle within the head of the pick for retaining said handle inplace.

Still further objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned inthe foregoing, will become apparent during the course of the followingdescription.

In the drawing forming a part of my application:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing oneembodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view, f

partly in elevation, showing the handle as it would appear with itsenlarged end portion in operative position in the head of the pick andin engagement with the prongs in said head,

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal. sectional View I on the line ofFigure 3,

Figure 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on the line 5--5 ofFigure 3,

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation showing a slightly modied embodimentof the invention,

Figure 7 is a detail top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of themodication shown in Figure 6.

Referring new more particularly to the drawing, attention is rstdirected to Figures 1 through 5, wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated.

The numeral I indicates in general the head of the pick of thisembodiment of the invention. The head I includes pick members 2 whichcarry points 3 at their free ends. The head I also includes a socket orferrule @I formed with an integral depending downwardly tapered skirt 5,said skirt being again tapered near its lower end. The socket or ferrule1I, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5,

includes straight side walls 6 and 'I and curved end walls 8 and 9.Formed on the side walls 6 and 1 near their corresponding upper ends arepairs of inwardly presented anchoring prongs I0 and II, one of saidprongs of each pair being* located near the end of the side wall onwhich it is mounted. As will be seen in Figure 2, the pairs of prongsare disposed in opposed relation. Formed on the end walls 8 and 9substantially medially of the thickness of the members 2 and disposed ina plane below the plane of the prongs I0 and II are oppositely disposedanchoring prongs I2 and I3.

Normally associated with the head I of the pick is a handle I4 whichhandle is formed at its upper end with an enlarged outwardly taperedhead or end portion I5. As will be understood, the body of the handle I4is of a diameter small enough to permit its being projected through thereduced lower end of the ferrule or socket. That is to say, when thehandle is to be connected with the head, the lower end portion of saidhandle is projected downwardly through the socket 4 and the enlargedportion I5 is, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3, engaged in the socket 4.The portion I5 is driven downwardly into the head so that the prongs I2and I3 and the prongs of the pairs of prongs III and II will engage inthe portion I5 and will rmly anchor the handle in operative position inthe head. Attention is partieularly directed to the fact that thetapered portion l I5 will engage the interiorly tapered skirt 5 of thesocket I so that, even though the prongs should become disengaged fromthe said portion I5, the head will be prevented from flying oi thehandle. Danger of injury to a person near the workman using the pickwill thus be avoided. As seen in Figure 5, the walls dening the sides ofthe socket are offset outwardly.

A pick constructed in accordance with this embodiment of the inventionmay be manufactured cheaply and in large quantities. In this connection,it should be understood that the prongs will be formed during casting ofthe head I.

In Figures 6 and 7 ofthe drawing I have Shown another embodiment of theinvention. In

these views the numeral I6 indicates the head of the pick and thenumeral I I the point thereof. The head I5 includes a socket having adepending skirt I8 which socket, as best seen in Figure '7, includesside walls I9 and 2l! and V-shaped end walls 2| and 22. Prongs 23, asshown in dotted lines, are engageable with the upper end portion of thehandle 24. The skirt I8 is formed with a slot 25 to lend a certainamount of frictional engagement, for permitting rm contact with theupper end portion of the handle, and to provide means for permitting theinsertion of fastening devices, if desired. As best seen in Figure 7,the upper end portion of the handle 24, which is shown at 26, is soshaped that it will t snugly in the socket in engagement with theprongs.

It is pointed out that, in this embodiment of the invention, theprovision of the V-shaped end walls 2l and 22 cooperate with the prongs23 assuring eiective anchoring of the handle in the head.

Having thus described the inventiom what is' claimed as new is:

A tool of the class described comprising a handle having an enlargeddownwardly tapered upper portion, a head having a correspondinglytapered handle receiving socket and provided with an integral downwardlytapered depending skirt, entirely surrounding the adjacent enlargedportion of the handle beneath said head, the opposite side walls of thesocket being provided with pairs of inwardly extending integral prongsand the opposite end walls thereof with prongs arranged at substantiallyright angles to the pairs of prongs and disposed in a plane below theplane of said pairs of prongs, said prongs engaging the enlarged portionof the handle for locking the head on the handle, the enlarged portionof the handle cooperating with the tapered wall of the socket forproviding an additional means for preventing outward displacement of thehead from the handle.

MARTIN BRANHAM.

